Arizona Technology Report Arizona Technology Council: The Voice of the Technology Industry
In This Issue Celebrating 10 Years…Page 2 SciTech Festival…Page 4 Legislative Action…Page 6
Who We Are The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona’s premier trade association for science and technology companies.
Phoenix Office
One Renaissance Square 2 N. Central Ave., Suite 750 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Phone: 602-343-8324 Fax: 602-343-8330 info@aztechcouncil.org
Tucson Office
The University of Arizona Science and Technology Park 9040 S. Rita Road, Suite 1150 (near I-10 and Rita Road) Tucson, Arizona 85747 Phone: 520-382-3281 Fax: 520-382-3299 tucson@aztechcouncil.org
President’s Message You’ve no doubt heard the maxim about changing the world one person at a time. In downtown Phoenix recently there were more than 1,500 high school students changing the world all at once. They were the best of the best who were invited to showcase their projects at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. These young innovators came from more than 70 countries, regions and territories to share the results of their independent research as they competed for more than $3 million in prizes. It was fitting that the Arizona Technology Council played a role in this competition. In addition to my serving Steven G. Zylstra, as a member of the fair’s President and CEO, Arizona Technology Council local arrangements committee, the 13 senior grand award winners of the recent Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (AZSEF) staged annually by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation went on to the international competition.
Management and Staff Steven G. Zylstra
Deborah Zack
Don Ruedy
President and CEO
Senior Director, Membership Services
Executive Emeritus, Tucson Office
Leigh Goldstein Managing Director, Programs and Events
Jennifer Ayres
Justin Williams
Director, Membership Services
Executive Emeritus, Tucson Office
Anne Rody
Alex Rodriguez
Director, Finance and Administration
Director, Tucson Office
Jeremy Babendure, Ph.D.
Merry Lake Merrell
Don Rodriguez
Director, Arizona SciTech Festival
Editor
Director, Marketing and Communication
Ron Schott Executive Emeritus, Phoenix Office
aztechcouncil.org
June – Sept. 2O13 aztechcouncil.org
Doug Reid Director, Arizona Innovation Institute
I can tell you that managing our own fair is no small feat as we host an average of 1,100 students from across the state each year and arrange for more than 400 volunteer judges from a variety of disciplines. Why do we do it? With the increased need for students to earn degrees in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), our fair promotes and awards students for STEM exploration through research. AzSEF exists solely for the betterment of youth in Arizona by providing opportunities for interactions with professionals, presentation of ideas, career exploration and project analysis. But there’s more. Helping young people make such discoveries so early in their lives will reward us all for years to come. As most of them head to Arizona’s and other universities after high school, they get the chance to gain research and development skills that truly can impact mankind. Even better, many are deciding to stay in Arizona as professionals. One last thing: The fairs offer the chance to have fun! After all, the competitors are still kids. And speaking for all of us who volunteer at the fairs, it’s our chance have fun while knowing we played a part in careers that will be marked by success. There’s always room for more. Go to azsef. org/sponsorship.shtml to find out how your business can get involved. If you missed this year’s international fair, take heart. It returns to Phoenix in 2016 and 2019 along with more opportunities to volunteer. More information is available at www.societyforscience.org. And if you get the chance to change even one life, you can be a winner, too.
2013 AzSEF winners who advanced to Intel ISEF Sejal Aggarwal • Kelsey Barter • Paula Beatty • Jacob Cabrejas • Ivy Chang • Tejas Dharmaraj • Anvita Gupta • Aakash Jain • Aditya Khurana • Nitish Peela • Sarah Sakha • Manav Sevak • Ryan Silva Arizona Technology Report
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